Collapsible sectional and portable washing machine



Get. 4, 1949 A. SLUTSKY 9 7 COLLAPSIBLE SECTIONAL AND PORTABLE WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1 946 INVENTOR. ABRAHAM SLUTSKY,

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0st. 4, 1949. A. SLUTSKY 2,483,676

COLLAPSIBLE SECTIONAL AND PORTABLE WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1946 INVENTCR. ABRAHAM .suurs/rv,

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Patented Oct. 4, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE SECTIONAL AND PORTABLE WASHING MACHINE Abraham Slutsky, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application August 13, 1946, Serial No. 690,259

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to a washing machine device which is collapsible and portable.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved demountable washing machine device which is very simple in construction, easy to set up and dismantle without the-use of tools, easily movable from place to place and requiring a minimum of storage space when disassembled, said device being especially adapted for use in a water receptacle such as a bathtub or other tub in the home.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved portable and collapsible washing machine device of the rotary type, saidldevice consisting of a small number of very simple parts which are inexpensive to manufacture and which occupy a small space when the machine is not in use, the device being especially adapted for use in the home.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a washing machine device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the device being shown set up for a washing operation.

Figure 2 is a reduced perspective view of an end plate employed in the washing machine device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a left end elevational view, partly in section, of the washing machine device of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a reduced perspective view of'a wall segment employed in the washing machine device of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevational view, partly in crosssection, showing the washing machine device of Figure 1 set up for operation in a conventional home laundry tub.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates abase or supporting structure for the washing machine device, said base structure comprising a number of small, detachably associated parts including a first element l2 and a second element l3. Element I3 is formed with a socket l4 in which the end of element I2 is received, said end being secured in socket M by a removable headed pin member l5. Member I2 is formed with an end projection IE to which is secured a suction cup IT. Member I3 is also formed with an end projection (8 to which is secured a suction cup IS. The suction cups l1 and I9 function to detachably secure the base structure to a suitable smooth support, such as the bottom of a bath tub or laundry tub.

Member I2 is formed with an upstanding socket 20 in which is secured a tubular sleeve member 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-140) 2 I Member I3 is also formed with an upstanding socket 22 in which is secured a tubular sleeve member 23. Slidably positioned in tubular sleeve 2| is a post member 24. Member 24 is formed with a plurality of transverse apertures 25. A pin member 26 passes through opposed apertures in sleeve 2i and through a selected aperture 25 of the post member 24 to detachably secure the post member in upright position in the sleeve member. A second post member 21 is detachably secured in sleeve member 23 by a pin member 28 in a similar manner. Post member 24 is formed with a semi-cylindrical bearing 29 at its top end and post member 21 is formed with a similar bearing 30 aligned with bearing 29.

Rotatably supported in bearings 29 and 33 is a drum 3|. Drum 3| also comprises a number of small, detachably associated parts including circular end plates 32 and 33 to which are secured four successively overlapping quarter-cylindrical wall plates 34 to define a cylindrical container for the material to be washed, the end plates 32 and 33 and the curved wall plates 34 being perforated to permit free passage of water and soap material through the walls of the container.

As shown in Figure 4, each wall plate 34 has secured to its inside surface adjacent a longitudinal edge 35 a cleat member 36. Adjacent each end of the cleat member 36 is formed a notch 31. Each of the end plates 32 and 33 is formed with an inner annular shoulder 38 and at degrees intervals recesses 39 are formed in the shoulder. As shown in Figure 1, the wall plates 34 are positioned so that the notched ends of the cleat members 36 interfit with the recesses 39, said notched ends cooperating with the recesses to prevent endwise relative movement of the end plates with respect to the wall plates. As shown in Figure 3, the longitudinal edge portions of the successive wall plates overlap each other and are secured in position by spring clips 4|] pivotally secured to the outer peripheral edges of the end plates at 90 degrees intervals corresponding to the locations of the recesses 39. Spring clips 49 in their holding positions exert resilient pressure on the overlapped edge portions of the wall plates, whereby outward radial movement of said edge portions is prevented. When the drum is to be opened the spring clips are rotated 90 degrees whereby the overlapped edge portions of the curved wall plates are released and said wall plates may be removed.

End plate 32 has a bearing stud 4| which is journalled in bearing 29. End plate 33 has a similar bearing stud 42 which is journalled in bearing 30, said stud 42 having an extension which is detachably coupled by a flexible coupling shaft 43 to the shaft of a motor 44 or other suitable rotary driving means.

In operation, the device is positioned in a tub such as a bath tub or laundry tub, shown at 45 in Figure 5. The drum is filled with clothes and water and soap material are admitted into the tub to a level wherein a substantial portion of the drum is immersed;- The motor 44 is energized, causing the drum to be vigorously rotated in the tub and the water and soap material to be.

circulated vigorously through the clothes. After a suitable period of rotatioiil clothes will be cleansed and may be removed By taking off one of the wall plates 34, thereby providing access to the interior of the drum.

When the laundering operation is cdiiipleted the device may be readily taken apart and stored for future use. The wall plates 34 may be stacked together sothat a minimum space will be required for storage of the components of the device. A suitable box or other receptacle may be provided for storage of the parts. 7

In assembling the device, base element I 2 is connected to base element I 3 by pin l5. Post members 24 and 21 are mounted in their respective supporting sleeves and are secured in position by the respective pins 26 and 28. Three of the curved wall segments 34 are overlappingly secured to the end plates 32 and 33 by engaging the respective notched portions of their cleat members 36 with the recesses 39 and securing the segments by clips 40 in the manner indicated in Figure 1. The base I l is positioned in a tub such as a bath tub or laundry tub so that suction cups 1'! and I9 grip the bottom of the tub. The drum is mounted on its bearings 29 and 3ll and the clothes to be laundered are placed inside the drum. The fourth wall segment is then secured in position. Water and soap material may then be admitted into the tub. Stud 42 is then coupled to motor 44 and the drum may then be rotated by the motor to perform the cleansing operation.

Although the side wall portions 34 of the drum have been shown and described herein as comprising four equal segments, the invention contemplates the use of other numbers of equal segments with corresponding modifications of the numbers and locations of recesses 39 in the end plates and spring clips 40 cooperating therewith to secure the overlapped wall segme'nt's in position.

While a specific embodiment of apo'rtable and collapsible washing r'nachine device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I 1. A demountable washing machine drum comprising a pair of substantially circular end plates, an axial bearing stud projecting from eachend plate, an annular shoulder formed on eaeh end plate on the side opposite the stud, a plurality of equally spaced recesses formed in the annular shoulder, an equal number of identical curved side plates defining a cylindrical body when their longitudinal edges are successively overlapped, each side plate having an internal cleat secured thereto and extending adjacent one of its longitudinal edges, the cleat being notched adjacent each end thereof to lockingly engage in opposite recesses in the shoulders of the end plates, and spring clips pivotally secured to the peripheries of the end plates adjacent the recesses adapted of the drum the to bear on the overlapped end edge portions of the side plates when the cleats are respectively engaged with said recesses, said end plates and side plates being perforated.

-2. A dein'ountable washing machine comprising a rotatable drum having a pair of oppositelydisposed, circular end plates each having an annular, circumferential groove at one side thereof and acentrally-disposed bearing stud on the opposite side thereof, a plurality of side-Wall plates 'assembleable with said end plates to constitute a I complete drum, each of said side-Wall plates comprising a curved plate having a longitudinal cleat secured along one edge thereof and provided adjacent its end with notches which cooperate With the grooved portions of said end plates to hold said end plates in assembled position, and means carried by said end plates operative to secure said wall plates; thereto for individual or collective assembly and disassembly, and a drum support also formed of a plurality of detachably associated parts and including a pair of posts disposed at respectively opposite ends of said drum, and bearings carried respectively by said posts and respectively receiving the bearing studs to rotatably mount, said drum on said drum support.

3. A demountable washing machine comprising a rotatable drum having a pair of oppositelyoiisposed, circular end plates each having an annular, circumferential groove at one side thereof, and a centrally-disposed bearing stud on the 0pposite side, a plurality of side-wall plates assembleable with said end plates to constitute a complete drum, each of said wall plates comprising a curved plate having a longitudinal cleat secured along one end thereof and provided adjacent its ends with notches which cooperate with the grooved portions of said end plates to hold said end plates in assembledposition, and means carried by said end plates operative to secure said wall plates thereto for individual or selective assembly and disas'sembly, and a support for said drum comprising a two-part base having means at one end of each part for detachably securing said parts together and a post-receiving socket on the opposite end of each part, a pair of posts each having one end receivable in a respective post-receiving socket and a drum-supporting bearing at the opposite end thereof receiving a respeetiv'e bearing stud to rotatably mount said drum on said drum support, and means operatively associated with said. posts and said sockets to detachably secure said posts in said sockets.

ABRAHAM SLUTSKY.

Date May 7, 1889 Feb. 16, 1926 e Aug. 23, 1927 NOV. 15, 1927 -l Feb. 23, 1923 V Feb. 9-, 1932 Hanson e; e Nov. 25,1941

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 7, 1932 ir b j 

